The Pros and Cons of Gay Group Cruises. Are They For You?

Gay group cruises provide an interesting alternative to all gay or lesbian charters and to regular mainstream cruises. They however, are not for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of gay group cruises:

What is a Gay Group Cruise?

Gay group cruises are where a travel company books a block of rooms on a mainstream cruise to accommodate LGBT guests. The group has their own dining table or area of the dining room. If the block of rooms is large enough, the travel company may add private parties, entertainment and even shore excursions for their group of guests. The group can be as few as 10 or as many as 500 or more. One of our travel partners, Pied Piper, is specifically known for putting on gay group cruises throughout the year. Their gay group cruises travel to many destinations including several transatlantic voyages on Cunard ships. Source Event, another company that we enjoy working with puts on an annual Pride cruise from Miami and offers other gay group itineraries.

What are the Pros of A Gay Group Cruise?

•More Options in Terms of Ships and Destinations

There are a limited number of gay charter cruises in each calendar year. Therefore, you may not find a gay charter cruise that fits your desired time period or itinerary. Because there are more gay group cruises offered during the year, you have more options.

•In Many Cases Better Pricing

The prices on gay group cruises are frequently, though not always, less than cruises on all gay charters. Additionally most mainstream cruises (even those with gay groups aboard) offer all-inclusive beverage packages. These beverage packages  are seldom if ever offered on ally gay charters. This may make a gay group cruise further economical for those who like to drink cocktails.

•More Mixed Group of Passengers

Gay groups are sharing the ship with straight people so you are not always in an all-gay environment during the cruise. This is pleasing to some people. Additionally, many (though not all) gay group cruises blend gay men and lesbians more evenly than on the gay charters.

What are the Cons of a Gay Group Cruise?

•Not Knowing How Large the Group Will Be

As noted above, gay group cruises can have as few as 10 or as many as 500 or more guests aboard a particular cruise. One of the largest gay groups each year comes aboard Pied Piper’s Post-Thanksgiving cruise. They often have 500 or more guests which allows them to throw an opening night party as shown in the photograph below. Another one that is well attended each year is Source Events’ Miami Pride cruise In April. They often have a 100 or more guest in their gay group. However, other times you may be disappointed in the smallness of the gay group. Group size depends on itinerary, ship, cost and other factors and is sometimes hard to predict.

•The Entertainment and Parties are Not As Spectacular

There are some fun parties (including costume parties) and special entertainers on gay group cruises. However, if headliners like Olivia Newton John, Kathy Griffin or Andy Bell, and nonstop dance parties that go to 6 a.m. with the world’s best DJ’s and laser shows are up your alley, then you simply will not find that kind of experience on a gay group cruise. Nevertheless bear in mind that  the cruise lines have stepped up their entertainment on mainstream cruises, even those without gay groups. For example,  a recent cruise featured a special performance by Carly Rae Jepsen.

•The Whole Experience is Not as Gay

As stated above, for some people, being in a mixed environment for parts of the cruise is more comfortable for them. For others however, the lure of an all gay or lesbian charter is that they can let their hair down as be as gay (and openly sexual) as they want to be. There is a good deal of hooking up on gay group cruises but you cannot walk around the ship in the kind of scanty outfits that you will routinely see on a gay charter.

So, is a Gay Group Cruise of Interest to You?

There are many gay group cruises listed on our web site in addition to the two mentioned above. However, because there are so many gay group cruises offered, we cannot list them all. If you are interested in all the ones available please contact us.

Purple Light Vacations provides you with the knowledge, insight and personalized service to make your vacation all you want it to be at no additional cost. We help you travel in the know wherever you go. To get started, fill out this quick form or call 619.324.1444 (ext. 3).